Chapter 1 The Hunt Begins

Chapter 1 The Hunt Begins

The brisk fall air embraced you as you trotted through the Everfree forest. The still of the night surrounded you with countless shadows of trees and fauna, the only light being cast was that of a full moon staring down at you, watching you. You look down at your hooves as you press on; One hoof in front of the other trotting to the rhythm of your heartbeat. You slightly cringe whenever a strong breeze is thrown at you. You grit your teeth as you try to wrap yourself even more tightly in your long brown coat that’s draped over you. The small hood connected to your trench coat is up shielding your mane from the frosty wind. You see the woods light up around you as lightning flashes overhead. A loud bang signals its arrival as thunder rolls across the land. You feel the small quick taps of raindrops hitting your hood and running down your body. All this is in vein; nothing can stop you from your mission.

Ten years ago when you were just a colt living on the outskirts of the large forests of Vanhoover; you came to your small home where you lived with your parents. Your mother always worried about you and your father. Dad was a guard in the royal army that was often posted at the border of Equestria and the Frozen North. You were their only child so your mother held you in great joy and pride. At the end of the week your village would gather at the great hall to welcome the soldiers coming back from the north. You saw your dad gallop toward you and you mother eagerly waiting to have the family restored to whole. Your dad would fall to his knees and wrap his arms around you and your mom giving her a kiss, feeling so happy to be home. During the get together you would listen to the soldiers’ tales of the Frozen North. Most of them were just urban legends cooked up to pass the time. The Frozen North was a barren place. Your father always said that there was nothing there. Yet you were smarter than that; because if there was nothing there then why in the wide wide world of Equestria would Princess Celestia have nearly half the army stationed along the border. Some of the older soldiers who were long past retirement and simply spent their last days among nature with the rolling hills and giant forests of Vanhoover, spoke and told you stories of Lycans, Ponies bitten by monsters usually wolves. After they were bit every full moon their bodies would undergo a transformation, from pony to wolf. Everypony knew, or thought that Lycans didn’t really exist, but hearing the story always made you slide in a little closer to your parents. When you became of age your Dad taught you about survival. Both of you were Pegasi. You learned to fly at a young age and your dad developed your techniques over the years. “Real military flying” he called it not any of that fancy crap the Wonderbolts do at their shows. Your dad also taught you how to spar being that you wanted to join with the royal army. You learned how to utilize all of your limbs, your arms, legs, and head, even your tail to swipe dirt and rocks into the enemies face.

When you were a Teenager on your 16th birthday, your father had just gotten back from a long tour in the Frozen North. He called you up to his room where he said he had something special to give you.

“I think your old enough for this now son I hope you’ll never need to use it but should the circumstance arrive may it bring you honor and glory in the Royal army. He held out both his hooves bearing a large silver bracelet one that would cover probably a third of your foreleg. It was very thick and heavy as you grasped it sliding it over your right foreleg. Wearing it you felt uneven and not balanced. You yielded a confused look on your face as your father laughed. “Haha don’t worry you’ll build strength and get used to it.” You leaned in and carefully studied the device fixed to your foreleg, twisting your head to get a view of it from all angles. You finally got the words out

“Look Dad I don’t mean to be rude….but what exactly is this thing?” you ask.

Your Dad smiled “Quickly flick your hoof up and then down.” He said

You comply raising your foreleg in the air, with a flick of your hoof up then slamming it downward the device activates and you hear a (shink) of metal scraping metal as a long silver blade about three feet in length, extends outward from a small slot in the device.

“A hoofblade?” you ask smiling

“A hoofblade, just like the ones we carry.” Your dad smiled as you thanked him for the awesome present. You reached in for a hug as your dad pushes you away. You notice the sword still extended just a few inches from his face, you father gives an unsure look.

You blush and chuckle a little letting him know that you can in fact be trusted with a weapon. “heh heh sorry.” You say sheepishly.

Your dad smiles “It’s alright son, same motion retracts it.”

You smile giving your hoof another flick as the blade telescopes and collapses into itself before retracting back into the small slot in the ring. Finally you proceeded safely with your hug as your dad simply said “You earned it kiddo”
The next year instead of sparing with your dad he taught you the art of sword fighting. The clings and clangs of blades coming into contact with one another was like a symphony, the silver streaks of blades whirling in the wind like an artist painting his masterpiece, the small gusts of wind that delicately trailed each strike felt magnificent.

On your 17th birthday your father passed the torch. He was discharged from the army and you were to take his place. Your mother strained holding back tears but as great as her efforts were the small drops still flowed from her warm eyes.

Your father comforted her “Don’t worry our son has been training his whole life for this.” Your dad says as your mother nods her head

“I know but it’s just……I don’t want anything to happen to my baby boy.” She says.

You step in and wrap your forelegs around her “Don’t worry Mom I know how to handle myself.” She cries into your shoulder as you wrap your wing around her back.

“Just promise us you’ll write everyday” she said still sobbing.

“I will don’t worry I love you Mom and Dad” you say feeling tears begin to work their way into your eyes. Your Mom and Dad give you a group hug and say goodbye as you pick up your saddle bags and venture out.

You write to you Mom and Dad every Night telling them of your life in the army. Nothing much happened it was no wonder why the soldiers invented stories and other myths and legends. It was the only thing that was of any interest. Every day it was wake up before Celestia raised the sun, stand out in Subzero temperatures for hours without food watching snow fall across a valley. A lot of times you would spend hours playing around with your hoofblade flicking it your hoof and watching as the thing readied and stored itself for attack. There was literally nothing of interest anywhere.

A year later you were on your way back home to your small village in Vanhoover. The train chugged along at a painfully slow pace as the snow was near white out condition outside your cabin window. You arrive at the train station late at night. Your eyes feel heavy as you work a little harder to breathe and keep yourself standing. You grab your Saddlebags and exit the train. You look around at your small village not seeing much changed in the year you’ve been gone. You don’t see your parents at the train station. “They’re probably cooking a big feast.” You think to yourself. You hike up your saddlebags and trot to the far outskirts where your house is.

When you arrive you see that the lights are on. “I guess they’re home.” You say as you trot up to the front door. Suddenly you freeze in your tracks. Staring at the door to your home you notice that it is slightly ajar as if someone or something broke in. Instantly you drop your saddlebags and flick your hoof extending your sword. You grasp the door with your other hoof bracing yourself on your hind legs “Mom, Dad?” You gently call out but loud enough that they would hear you.

Your ears cringe as a massive howl fills the house and surrounding area “Ahwoooooooooo!!!”

Acting on instinct you break down the door, you were strong but the sight which awaited you; you were no match for. You saw a large black creature that lowered its head from the howl and slowly turned toward you. It stood at least twice your height, and you were big well over the size of any normal stallion. The creature was unlike any you had seen, At first glance it looked like a large pony but its coat was roughed up with black patchy fur as long thick claws protruded from its hooves. Its muzzle was like that of a canine, elongated with a wet black nose on the tip. The tips of two white fangs hung from either side of its mouth. Its ears were curved like that of a wolf’s. You then glanced down and saw the two lifeless bodies of your Mom and Dad in a pool of blood spreading across the floor. You looked at the creature as blood dripped from its claws and fangs. It stared back at you with yellow eyes…a demon’s eyes. The creature let out a massive roar that shook the windows in the house spit flew from its hideous mouth. Tears were welling up in your eyes as your whole body felt hot you noticed your breathing had gone from mildly exhausted to that of a feral anger.

You couldn’t hold it in any longer “AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!” You shouted so loud that the whole village must have heard as you galloped full speed blade drawn toward the monster. Like a wild animal you pounce driving the blade directly toward the beast’s chest. While you’re in the air the massive creature reaches its arms out grabbing ahold of you and spinning around flinging you into the wall behind it. Your body hits with a thud sending a crack up the wall. Instantly on pure adrenaline you fly to your feet, again you pounce blade out. The creature effortlessly slaps you off your path with its colossal arm. You land again with a thud next to your mother’s body. You stare into her lifeless eyes, knowing that her last thoughts were of you. Tears began flowing down your cheeks, the floor shook, and the creature which you knew was a Lycan lumbered over towards you. Your chest was rising up and down falling as you coughed up a red liquid. Your whole body ached beyond belief, you couldn’t get up all you could do was lay there with your mothers lifeless body in view. You suddenly choked as you felt a large hand wrap tightly around your neck, squeezing your windpipe as it lifted you up to eye level with the creature. Your body was dangling in the air being held by your neck face to face with the demon that killed your family, which ripped your life away from you. You wanted to cry, but you forced back your tears, you would not give it the satisfaction of seeing you tormented, if it could even understand. It roared again hurting your ears and spraying a mist of its saliva on your face. Suddenly you burst into action using what little momentum you had from your body being suspended you gave a swift kick to the things chest causing its grip to loosen. You lurched your right foreleg forward in an upward arch slashing the beast across its left eye. The Lycan howled in pain as it regained itself slamming you into the wall. It then pressed its hand off of your neck bringing it to its eye covering it. You could see smoke as if acid was poured on it. You couldn’t move. The pain was too much, you watched as the beast leapt out the window and charged off into the forest.

The neighbors found you the next morning. The community came together as unicorns used their magic to nurse you back to health. The Pegasi did aerial recon for the beast in the surrounding forests. Many thought you a crazed schizophrenic, said that you made the whole thing up and that your parents died from a criminal and not a werewolf. They said you spent too much time up north and let the stories get into your head. This made your blood boil. Silently from the moment you walked in the door to your house you vowed to yourself as Celestia as your witness you would kill the Lycan that ripped you family from you.

So here you are. For months you have been tracking the beast following one lead to the next. You tracked it to Manehatten, then South to the Badlands, Back West to Appleousa and now slightly north to the Everfree Forest. Normally you would fly and search from the air. But the Everfree was covered by a thick layer of trees that hid anything inside. You had heard legends about the Everfree forest being one of the most dangerous places in Equestria, but having grown up in a forest all your life, you felt right at home. The storm had picked up again. Thunder boomed overhead as rain found its way through the thick trees and pelted your hood. Your ears stood straight up forming two triangular tents in your hood, as you listened for any sounds of movement. You continued trotting onward looking at your front hooves as they walked in a metronome, you wouldn’t stop, you couldn’t stop. You heard the snap of a twig from your left side and instantly froze as you tilted your head up from the ground. You rotated your ear a bit to try and fine tune the sound. You squinted your eyes in focus still unmoving and looking straight ahead of you. You began taking deep breaths before you burst open your wings and flew out of the way dodging a large animal just pouncing at you from your left side. You skid to a halt kicking up dirt in your landing. You whip your head around and see a wolf like creature, except this one was made from leaves and branches. “Timberwolf” You uttered to yourself. You had read about these creatures and learned that they were pretty common in the Everfree forest; you also knew that they traveled in packs. Right on cue you looked to your right and left as five pairs of yellow eyes showed themselves. You were now face to face with the Timber wolf that lunged at you earlier, you flick your hoof as your blade extends ready for battle.

The Timberwolf growls at you as you take a combat stance on your hind legs. Without warning the Timberwolf charges at you and pounces again. You extend and lock your foreleg spearing the wolf through the neck then dragging him through the air over your head and slamming him on the ground next to you as he breaks apart into a cluster of branches. You slide your sword out of its neck and turn back around to see five more timberwolves uttering a low growl at the act you just committed. You act on instinct not hesitating by making the first move, you charge strait at the group sliding on the ground underneath them doing a fast 180 you whip your blade around and slice one apart as the other four lunge at you One pounces which you again spear like the first one almost instantly another leaps at you teeth flared. You slam the impaled timberwolf into its brother knocking both of them to the ground. The one you impaled flies off your sword bursting into a pile of branches. Three to go. One comes up from behind you and swipes at you with its claws you duck out of the way just in time flaring your sword up in the air in an arch severing both its forelegs. The body lands in front of you unable to stand it snaps at you with its jaws. Again like a dancer you whip around to see one of the creatures in midair its mouth wide open. You guard against its attack with your blade pushing back and sending it recoiling to the ground. You spin around and finish off the other timberwolf whose legs you severed by driving your sword right into its head with a grunt. You rip the blade out of its skull as it crumbles into branches. You turn to see the timber wolf you knocked to the ground is now getting back up. You spread your wings and quickly fly over and land on top of it. It tries to buck you off as it frantically whips its head from side to side snapping at you. Using all your strength you hang on and manage to get your blade under its neck. With a quick clean sweep you pull back on the sword severing the beast’s neck as it crumbles sending you to the ground on top of it. You instantly get back up and hear a snarl come from behind you it’s too late you turn around and feel the pain of your flesh being torn on the right side of your body. The timberwolfs’ claws tear through you cutting deep. You know you won’t turn because they aren’t Lycans but it still hurt like Tartarus. “AAAAHHH!!!” you scream in pain as you spin around and see the wolf lining up for another strike. This time you’re ready it leaps at you teeth barred ready to land the killing blow. You kneel down and sweep up with your sword as the timberwolf lands behind you. You don’t move as you wait for the sound you know is coming. Sure enough the timberwolf cracks as his head slides off of its neck, a clean cut. You smirk at the satisfaction of your victory. However your celebration is short as you feel the throbbing pain of your wound. “AAAHHH” you fall to both your knees as you examine the wound. Three slits run across the right side of your body about halfway between your head and tail. They are massive, the wolf got you good. You tenderly touch the area around it which makes you clench in pain as crimson liquid seeps out from the three slits. You take a few quick breaths as you press your wing as hard as you can against the wound. You know you have to keep pressure on it or you’ll bleed out. You slowly get back on your feet.

“I need to find a doctor.” You quickly look around; you spot a faint light shining through the trees at the far end. “A town they must have a doctor.” You think to yourself as you slowly trot towards the only sign of civilization.

Your gambit was right; you emerge from the dark plant-scape of the forest and gaze upon a small village. A sign reads “WELCOME TO PONYVILLE!” you gaze at it “Ponyville huh, never heard of it I hope they have a doctor.” You slowly limp into the town. It’s got to be one in the morning and everypony’s in bed. “Hello” you call out “I could use some help” No good nopony can hear you. You look down at your wing as you see that your feathers are bright red from the blood and that you are leaking a trail of it on the ground. The crimson droplets drip off your feathers. You press on feeling yourself get dizzy and light headed. You try to take note of any landmarks. The town has a lot of unique buildings. There looks to be a giant carousel in the middle but what catches your eye most is the giant tree sitting just off to the side. You tentatively approach the tree when an unexplainable feeling embraces you. You fall flat on your stomach and manage to roll over onto your back. You look up at the starry sky and see the moon shining down on your coat. You start to close your eyes.

“HEY!” A voice shouts out “Hey are you ok?”

You open your eyes using whatever’s left of your fleeting strength and find a purple Alicorn gazing over you with a strong look of worry on her face.

You try to speak but you only manage to spit up blood on yourself as the Alicorn examines your wound.

“Spike! Get over Here! I need your help!” She yells out looking around before turning back to you. Her eyes lock with yours as she strokes your mane with her hoof. “Don’t worry you’re going to be OK we’re going to take care of you. SPIKE HURRY!” She yells again you hear footsteps approaching but cannot see who or what it is. You see the Purple Alicorn simply say “Come on We need to get him inside.” You could feel yourself being lifted up but were too weak. Your vision fades to black.